Hitching device.



H. A. WETTSTEIN.

BITCH-ING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.10, 1908.

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HENRY A. \IC.l".I.`S'I`EIN, O F IIAZLICTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

I'IITCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 29, 1909.

Application ledNovember 10, 1908. Serial No. 461,857.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY A. VVETTsTErN, a citizenV ol' the United States, and a resident ol Hazleton, in the county ol' Luzerne and StateY ol' Pennsylvania, have invented a new and' Improved I'Iitching Device, ol' which the following is a l'ull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to hitching devices i'or useY in connection with horses.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device for supporting and releasing a hitching weight, and for connecting the same tothe bit or reins ol a horse.

A further object is to provide means lor engaging the hitching. rein or-rope, to prevent tension; so as not to induce backing, up..

The invention consists in the construction and combination ol' parts, toA be more Vfully described hereinafter and particularly set `lorth in the claims.

Reference is to be had tothe accompany ing drawings `forming apart of this specilication, in which similar characters oi' reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ol" a portion el' a wagon with my weight-supporting device attached thereto, and showing the connection y ol' the hitching weight with the bit of a horse; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the holder and weight, with the weight in the holder; Fig. f3 is a section through the holder alone g Fig. 4 is a top plan view ol' the weight holder Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view, showing the inside ol' the holder; and Fig. 6 is a detail view, showing a convenient form of bail Vfor connection to the bit and to the weight rope.

In said drawings, a dome-shaped shell 1 is provided with an upwardly-extending member 2, which is secured by means of screws 3 to the side of a wagon body 4. The shell 1 has a central aperture 6 in its upper end, through which a weight cord 7 passes. I/Vithin the shell 1 are a plurality of pairs of ribs 8, between which shouldered springs 10 are secured by means of rivets 11, or in any other suitable manner, to the inner i'ace of the shell 1. Each spring 10 is provided intermediate its length with a shoulder 14, and the 'free end of two springs is formed with teeth 16, adapted to engage the weight cord 7 and firmly grip the same when the horse tries to back up when the weight is upon the ground. f

Pivoted to the shell 1 by a pin 1S, mounted in lugs 1.9 cast upon the side ol' the shell 1 is a lever 20. Said lever is formed at its one end in the shape ol' a ring 21, adapted to come in Contact with the under side ol each ol' the springs 10, near their l'ree ends to raise said springs, in order to Vl'ree the weight l'rom the shoulders. The outer end ol' the lever' 2O is provided with a 'flattened extension 24.1, through which the level' 20 may be operated.

The weight 3() is shaped substantially the same as the interior oll the shell 1, and is provided at its upper end with an annular shoulder 31, adapted to operate with the shoulders 14 ol' the springs 10. The weight 3() is provided with a central passage 32, having an enlargement at its lower end, l'or the reception of a knot 34, or other securing means fastened to the cord 7.

A knot or collar 36 .may be Yl'ormcd or placed on the weight rope 7 between the holder 1 and the dasher 37 ol' the wagon. The purpose of this knot or collar is to prevent the weight rope l'rom sagging between the dasher and the head ol' the horse, thereby tending to annoy the same.

The cord 7 may be passed through a ring 38 in the dasher 37, and then to an eye 40 secured midway oll the bail 41, having spring clasps 42 at each end thereof l'or attachment to the ends oi' the horses bit.

The operation ol the device is as follows Considering the weight in its raised position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is merely necessary to press the extension 24 olE the lever 20 downwardly, thereby raising the l'rce ends of the springs 10 by means of the ring 21. This frees the shoulders 31 from the shoulders 14 of the springs, whereupon the weight drops to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 1. If, while the weight is in this position, the horse should attempt to back up, the cord 7 would come into contact with the teeth on the free ends of the springs 10, thereby becoming gripped firmly and not induce further backing up. By attaching the weight cord centrally of the bail 41, the weight tends to pull evenly on both sides of the bit of the horse.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent z* 1. In a hitching device, the combination of a shell, a plurality of shouldered members supported within said shell, a weight provided with shoulders to cooperate with the shoulders on said members and be supported una thereby, and means for releasing said weight from said members.

2. In a hitching` device, the combination of a shell, a plurality of shouldered springs mounted within said shell, a weight provided with shoulders to coperate with the shoulders on said springs and be supported thereby, and means for moving said springs to release said weight.

3. In a hitching device, the combination of a shell, a plurality of shouldered springs, each attached at one end to said shell, a shouldered weight adapted to rest on the shoulders of said springs, and a lever pivoted to said shell and having one end arranged to be brought into contact with the free ends of said springs to release said weight.

4. In a hitching device, the combination of a shell, a plurality of shouldered springs attached at one end to said shell and provided with teeth at their free ends, a shouldered weight adapted to rest on the shoulders of said springs, and a lever mounted upon said shell and arranged to move said springs to release said weight.

5. In a hitching device, the combination with a weight, of a shell, a plurality of members attached to said shell for supporting said weight, and a lever arranged to be brought into contact with said members to release said weight therefrom.

6. In a hitching device, the combination with a weight, of a shell, a plurality of members attached to said shell for supporting said Weight, a lever having one end arranged to be brought into contact with said members to release said weight therefrom, a connectiorL from said weight to an animals harness, and means on said members for engaging said connection upon attempted backing-up of' the animal.

7. In a hitching device, the combination of a weight, a connection between the weight and an animals harness, means for supporting said weight, means for freeing said weight from said supporting means, and means on said supporting means for engaging said connection upon attempted backing up of the animal.

8. In a hitching device, the combination of a weight, a connection between the weight -and an animals harness, independent means for detachably supporting saidv weight, and means on said supporting means adapted to engage and holdsaid connection upon attempted backing up of the animal.

9. In a hitching device, a weight, a flexible connection between the weight and an animals harness, means for supporting the weight from a vehicle, means for releasing the weight to allow it to drop to the ground, and means for automatically gripping the flexible connection to relieve it of tension upon the backing of the animal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. WETTSTEIN.

I/Vitnesses:

J. M. FEY, BENJ. F. RANDENBUSH. 

